Miss State lands bid to TaxSlayer Bowl in Jacksonville

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STARKVILLE, MS - NOVEMBER 11: Nick Fitzgerald #7 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs hangs his head as he walks off the field after falling to the Alabama Crimson Tide 31-24 during the second half of an NCAA football game at Davis Wade Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)

Miss State lands bid to TaxSlayer Bowl in Jacksonville

STARKVILLE, MS - NOVEMBER 11: Nick Fitzgerald #7 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs hangs his head as he walks off the field after falling to the Alabama Crimson Tide 31-24 during the second half of an NCAA football game at Davis Wade Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)

STARKVILLE, Miss-For a school-record eighth straight season, Mississippi State football is going bowling as the 23rd-ranked Bulldogs will face Louisville in the TaxSlayer Bowl at 11 a.m. CT/12 p.m. ET on Dec. 30 at EverBank Field.

“We are excited to accept a bid to the TaxSlayer Bowl and cap this season off the right way,” Director of Athletics John Cohen said. “I want to congratulate our team for a terrific season and earning the right to play one more. We get to do it in an NFL stadium. Our group of seniors is one victory away from tying the school record for wins by a senior class. We look forward to seeing our Bulldog family turn out in Jacksonville as we play in a Florida bowl for the fifth time in eight seasons.”

No. 23 State (8-4, 4-4 SEC) was the fifth-highest ranked SEC team in the final College Football Playoff rankings. Three of the Bulldogs’ losses occurred to teams in the final top seven. Seven of MSU’s victories were by double-digits, including a 37-7 victory over current No. 17 LSU.

“This is a great opportunity for our team to go after its ninth win of the year,” said Greg Knox, who will serve as MSU’s head coach for the bowl game. “We are excited about playing an opponent the caliber of Louisville in the TaxSlayer Bowl. Our players are ready to get back to practice.”

Louisville enters the game with an 8-4 record and a 4-4 mark in the ACC. They feature reigning Heisman Trophy winner quarterback Lamar Jackson. It will be the fifth time the two schools have faced off and first since Sept. 18, 1976 in Starkville. MSU won all four previous meetings on the field but had to vacate wins in 1975 and 1976.